Following The Journal’s recent front page story and concerns raised by local resident, Michael Moxham, regarding public toilets in the town and access, particularly for the disabled and the elderly, Town Councillors discussed ways in which facilities can be improved at their September meeting on Monday evening this week.

£500 has been approved to provide a potential new sign, electric hand dryer and to assess the security implications for staff in the offices of the Town Hall. Following the removal of the automated public toilet in The Island, work was carried out alongside the Sarah Ann Trust to provide a public convenience within the Town Hall, but this is not well used, despite publicity.

Councillors identified the lack of public conveniences, mainly after 2 pm on a Saturday afternoon, when the Library, Hollies, and Town Hall are closed to the public. The only place available then is the Sports Centre at Gullock Tyning, which is outside of the town centre and potentially too far for the elderly to walk. As well as approving the £500, Councillors agreed to investigate signage throughout the town, look at the cost of installing a radar key facility for the Town Hall and the impact on insurance this may have for the building; plus other options – such as working alongside the town traders, public houses and church centres, to see if they would allow their facilities to be used in an emergency. Other ideas included a map of facilities in information boxes at the Town Hall and the Hollies, and a sign for shop windows, should they allow use of their toilets.

The proposal of finding a suitable location for a brand new toilet block was met with a lukewarm response, due to the cost of the building, ongoing maintenance and vandalism. In the recent shoppers’ survey, which featured in The Journal, access to public toilets in Midsomer Norton scored the lowest against an ideal town.